wet-green GmbH Earns USDA Certified Biobased Product Label

Reutlingen, May 10, 2023 — wet-green GmbH announced today that it has earned the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product Label for wet-green® OBE 1 tanning agent for Olivenleder®.

wet-green® OBE 1 is made of 100% biobased raw materials coming from by-products of olive growing, covered by a global patent. wet-green® OBE 1 is applied as a pre-tanning agent and replaces standard tanning technologies e.g. Chromium, Glutaraldehyde, Zeolites etc., is non-corrosive, metal-free, free of synthetic reactive tanning chemicals, formaldehyde-free, glutaraldehyde-free, bisphenol-free, syntan free, viscous, pumpable and pleasant smelling. wet-green® OBE 1 is the next generation vegetable tanning agent suitable for a wide range of leather articles and applied since many years in areas e.g. automotive, upholstery, garments, shoes and accessories.
Feels and looks like chrome tanned leather – but it is the finest, softest and brightest vegetable tanned leather.

The wet-green® tanning agent for Olivenleder® can now display a unique USDA label that highlights its percentage of biobased content. Third-party verification for a product’s biobased content is administered through the USDA BioPreferred® Program, which strives to increase the development, purchase, and use of biobased
products.

Biobased products help address climate change by offering renewable alternatives to petroleum-based
products; sequester carbon dioxide, lowering the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere that contribute to climate change; create and expand markets; are generally safer for people and the environment than their petroleum-based counterparts; and represent incredible technological advances and innovations.

The USDA Certified Biobased Product Label displays a product’s biobased content, which is the portion of a product that comes from a renewable source, such as plant, animal, marine, or forestry feedstocks. Utilizing renewable biobased materials displaces the need for non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals. Biobased products are cost-comparative, readily available, and perform as well as or better than their conventional counterparts.

“The USDA Certified Biobased Label guarantees our customers that wet-green® OBE 1 contains a USDA-verified amount of 100% renewable biological ingredients,” said Thomas Lamparter, Head of Sales. “Ideal for tanneries and brands striving for circular products made of a high biocontent. The tanning agent made of by-products of
Mediterranean olive growing enables to claim the Olivenleder® being the result of tanning a by-product with a by-product, avoiding waste in the food supply chain at the benefit for humans and the environment.”

„We applaud wet-green GmbH for earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label,“ said Vernell Thompson, USDA BioPreferred Program. „The label is intended to help spur economic development, create new jobs, and provide new markets for farm commodities. But the label also makes it easier for consumers and federal buyers to locate biobased products and consider planet-friendlier options during purchase decisions. By having their products become USDA Certified Biobased, wet-green GmbH joins an expanding list of businesses combatting inaccurate marketing claims and the practice of greenwashing, while also contributing to a thriving bioeconomy that decreases our reliance on petroleum.“

In the latest Economic Impact Report released by USDA, the biobased products industry supported 4.6 million American jobs; contributed $470 billion to the U.S. economy and generated 2.79 jobs in other sectors of the economy for every biobased job. Biobased products also have a substantial environmental impact, displacing about 9.4 million barrels of oil a year, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year.

In the latest Economic Impact Report released by USDA, the biobased products industry supported 4.6 million American jobs; contributed $470 billion to the U.S. economy and generated 2.79 jobs in other sectors of the economy for every biobased job. Biobasedproducts also have a substantial environmental impact, displacing about 9.4 million barrels of oil a year, with the potential to reducegreenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year.

About wet-green GmbH

At wet-green we are aiming to produce leather that is a thoroughly healthy product, especially where it is in contact with the skin. wet-green focuses on natural leather solutions to manufacture so called “Olivenleder®”.
The leaves of the olive tree are bursting with health. We use a brewing process, and with the brew extract from the leaves, we create an aromatic syrup: Olive leaf extract – concentrated health! We have taken out a patent, which covers the tanning process for leather. Additional information can be found at www.olivenleder.com

About the USDA BioPreferred Program
With the goal of increasing the development, purchase, and use of biobased products, USDA’s BioPreferred® Program was first introduced in the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized in 2018. It requires federal agencies and contractors to give purchasing preference to biobased products. The USDA BioPreferred Program also includes a voluntary certification and labeling initiative for biobased products. This is referred to as the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label.

More than 1,800 companies across the U.S. and in 47 countries participate in the Program. From farm and field all the way through the manufacturing process, the expanding market for biobased products creates jobs, supports rural economic growth in America, and has a positive impact on our planet. Have questions? Please contact: Vernell Thompson, USDA BioPreferred Program at Vernell.Thompson@usda.gov.